Yesterday I said that living in the world of woulda-coulda-shoulda is a spiritual issue. Why?
Live in the past, live in the future, and you will never live for God. After I pay for the house, I will pay attention to my prayer life. After I raise the children, I will pay attention to my spiritual growth. After I retire, I will seek spiritual freedom.
That’s the problem with the rich man. The problem isn’t that he has things or that he owns stuff. The problem isn’t that he has plans build a barn to hold his stuff. The problem is that he is so preoccupied with getting, keeping, and preserving what he has that he isn’t present to God at all. He is living without an awareness of God’s presence.
That’s the difference between the teaching of Jesus and Zen Buddhism. The Gospel story isn’t just about being present; and it isn’t about self-mastery. This isn’t about carpe diem — “seize the day, boys, seize the day.” It’s not even about mortality or judgment. It’s about being here and now for God, with God, and aware of God.
What happens when we do that? Three things. The first tomorrow.